3 . 6 . 14

Nobody Care's About Our Welfare ~ Chapter 28

(Kathrine's P.O.V.)

"She can't be dead...she...she'll re-spawn...right?" Astrid shivered.
"Yeah. Right." I nodded, believing solely because I wanted to. Magnus nodded as well.
"We...we should tend to Percy first." Astrid suggested. We ran to Percy, acting as thankful as possible in this situation (which is not happy at all because it's really virtually impossible to be smiling after one of your closest comrades have possibly died and one of your teammates is injured and on the verge of death).

"Per...Percy!" Astrid shouted. As we reached his fragile body, we saw the real impact. Even with Claire's healing, a scratch on his arm was still bleeding after skidding across the ground and a dark patch tainted his skin under his shirt. How amazing...how utterly amazing. A two-in-one bruise n' fracture. It's even the limited edition Cerberus kind...yippee!

"Claire...what did she do..." Percy weakly asked.
"She...she'll revive." Astrid replied, indirectly answering the question.
"Revive?" Percy winced. "What did she do?"
"She- she..." Astrid took in a shaky breath. She had a pained look on her face, one that didn't want to go through what happened again.
"She jumped in." I finished for her, sharing the burden.
"That?" Percy slightly lifted his hand and gestured to the ruins.
"Ye...yeah." I nodded. "We can talk...later. Yeah. We need to fix you up."

I kept a brave facade, fighting off the tears that threatened to flow out and the fear that dared to take over me. I looked over to Astrid then to Magnus.

"Does...anyone know how to..." I paused, remembering Claire. "...heal?"
"Sorry." Magnus and Astrid shook their heads.
"So..." I trailed off. Percy sighed.
"I won't die just yet but I can't move." He informed."Magnus- I carried you before this, didn't I?"
"Fine..." Magnus groaned.

We made a little giggle, lightening the mood a bit even though they were empty and filled with more despair than amusement. Magnus lifted Percy from the ground, carrying him bridal style. I would be laughing my eyeballs out if I didn't feel like gouging them out first. Claire...I knew she can be revived...but what if she was eaten first? Cerberus was probably an Αωοκεηεd βεαsτ and his size and weight would certainly make gravity be in its favor. And even if she did land and die due to fall impact, would she really revive? The chance of some twisted twist that almost guarantees her death is more than probable. I mean, we saw and predicted a death with stars that tell faith...we saw the sign of death- a taboo telling us someone may die! I only hope she's not...

"She's gone." Percy said, only barely audible to us.
"Wha- what do you mean? She'll be at the cathedral." Astrid waved off, her voice shaking.
"I should've told you this earlier..." Percy admitted. "but..."
"But...?" I question, not liking what was to come.
"I've been there before. Maybe a couple centuries ago." Percy explained. "That hole leads to the underworld. That area we were just at well...they're parts of the Ашακεηэd Lαηds."

~

We reached home after an awkward bit of suspension, silence, tension and fear, and couple moments of surviving the stares of the busy commoners who were minding their own merry little business. I mean, if a man carrying some insanely injured dude like their bride followed by two depressed looking teenagers who were sulking behind them didn't look odd enough, I don't know what is. As we entered the house, Magnus laid Percy in a sitting position on the long couch and took a seat beside him. Astrid and I stayed on the mini couches beside it. As I took a seat, Misa hopped onto the couch then settled on my lap. I caressed her fluffy skin treating her like a stress ball.

"Let's end the awkwardness." I spoke up, fluffing Misa's neck. "I'm sure we're all guessing Ашακεηэd Lαηds are bits of land where you can experience the Ашακεηιηg. In Magnus' mind it'd be 'some land where you can actually die on'."
"That's surprisingly accurate." Magnus mumbled.
"Yeah..." Astrid agreed, who was now hugging already hugging Orea in her arms.
"That's right." Percy verified, staring at our little friends. "So I don't have to explain, do I?
"Please don't." I begged, startling Misa with my tight grip. "I don't need it rubbed in my face."
"Right. Stay positive." Astrid stated, doing the same with Oreo. "Claire did it for us to complete our task. And we did, didn't we? She wouldn't want us sulking around cuz' of her."
"Yeah. We completed her final wish in life." Magnus joined in.
"I'm glad your not letting her death go in vain." Percy said, his words giving the opposite effect of grateful. It just made me feel worse.
"That just made me feel worse." I blurted, letting go of Misa.
"I'm sorry." Percy sarcastically apologized. "I didn't know that appreciating you was bad."
"Hahaha." I laughed (with a completely monotone tone).
"Since Clair gave us the opportunity to live longer, we shouldn't be dying just yet." Astrid stated, cutting in on Percy and I's sarcasm battle. "First up on our task list: heal Ashton."